Collection: Norfolk IPA

Discover IPAs brewed in Norfolk by independent breweries across the county – from crisp, refreshing and citrus-led beers to intensely aromatic IPAs bursting with tropical fruit and hop character.

IPA has become one of the defining styles of modern independent brewing, but those three letters can cover a surprisingly wide range of beers. Some are dry and distinctly bitter, others soft and juicy; some are deliberately easy-drinking, while others deliver considerably more intensity.

Norfolk's independent brewers are producing their own interpretations – combining brewing skill, Norfolk's strong connection with malting barley and hops selected from Britain and around the world.

What does Norfolk IPA taste like?

The hops tend to take centre stage.

Depending upon the varieties used, an IPA can deliver aromas and flavours of grapefruit, lemon and lime, pine, peach and stone fruit through to mango, passion fruit and other tropical fruits.

Some IPAs have a pronounced dry, bitter finish; others concentrate much more on aroma, fruit and a softer mouthfeel.

That's why it's worth looking beyond the letters IPA. The particular beer and the way it has been brewed will tell you much more about what to expect.

What's the difference between IPA and Pale Ale?

There's considerable overlap, particularly amongst modern craft beers, but IPA generally puts greater emphasis on hops.

Compared with a typical Pale Ale, you can usually expect an IPA to offer more hop aroma and flavour, often more bitterness and sometimes a higher alcohol content.

Pale Ale will often be the gentler, more balanced option, while IPA is where brewers can really showcase particular hop varieties and combinations.

There are plenty of exceptions, however, and modern brewing has blurred the distinction considerably.

What does IPA actually mean?

IPA stands for India Pale Ale.

The style has its roots in British brewing and beers exported to India during the 18th and 19th centuries. Over time, IPA evolved considerably and has subsequently been reinvented by generations of brewers.

Today's Norfolk IPA doesn't have to resemble those historical beers. IPA has become a broad family of styles united principally by the importance of hops.

Are all IPAs very bitter?

No – and this is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about IPA.

Some certainly are deliberately bitter, but modern brewers can use hops to create aroma and flavour without making bitterness the dominant characteristic.

Dry hopping, for example, can introduce huge amounts of citrus or tropical-fruit aroma. Different yeasts, malts and brewing techniques can produce IPAs that are juicy, hazy, soft, crisp, dry or intensely bitter.

So if you've tried one IPA and didn't like it, you haven't necessarily discovered that you don't like IPA – you may simply prefer a different interpretation of the style.

What are Session, West Coast and New England IPAs?

You may encounter several different descriptions.

A Session IPA generally aims to provide plenty of hop character at a lower, more easy-drinking strength.

A West Coast IPA typically emphasises hops, citrus and pine alongside a distinctly dry, bitter finish.

A New England or NEIPA tends to be softer, hazier and more fruit-forward, often showing pronounced tropical and stone-fruit characteristics with less emphasis on bitterness.

Individual brewers naturally put their own interpretation on these styles, but the terms can provide a useful clue when choosing a beer.

Norfolk ingredients, hops from around the world

Norfolk has a particularly strong connection with beer because it is one of Britain's important malting-barley growing regions.

That gives Norfolk brewing a genuine connection with the surrounding agricultural landscape. Local grain and malt can provide the foundations upon which a brewer builds a beer.

IPA also demonstrates how local brewing can look beyond the county. Brewers select hops for the flavours they want to create, which can mean varieties grown in Britain, Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand.

It's an interesting combination: a beer brewed in Norfolk, potentially built upon Norfolk-grown grain, but influenced by hop varieties and brewing ideas from around the world.

IPA brewed in Norfolk

Our Norfolk IPA collection brings together beers from independent breweries across the county, with the selection changing as breweries introduce new recipes, seasonal beers and limited releases.

Whether you prefer something light and approachable, juicy and fruit-forward or properly dry and bitter, Norfolk's independent breweries demonstrate just how varied three little letters – IPA – can be.

Explore our current selection of Norfolk IPAs below.